A day on the water should be relaxing, but a boating accident can leave an injured person facing a wide array of very serious complications. Whether the crash occurred on the Jersey Shore, a lake, a river, or another New Jersey waterway, you may have the right to pursue compensation when someone else’s careless actions caused your injuries. Continue reading and reach out to a Union County boat accident lawyer here at The Mark Law Firm to learn more about boating accident injuries and how our legal team can help if you’ve sustained one through no fault of your own. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim After a New Jersey Boating Accident?
Yes, in many cases, an injured passenger, swimmer, water skier, or other boater may file a personal injury claim against the person or party responsible for the accident. Most claims are based on negligence, which essentially means someone failed to use the reasonable care the situation required. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may be brought against the following parties:
- The boat operator who caused a collision
- boat owner who allowed an inexperienced or impaired person to operate the vessel
- Another passenger whose reckless conduct contributed to the accident
- A rental company that provided an unsafe or poorly maintained boat
- A manufacturer, if a defective boat part or piece of safety equipment caused the injury
Importantly, the person driving the boat is not always the only potentially liable party. An attorney can investigate ownership records, insurance coverage, maintenance history, witness accounts, photographs, and other available evidence to determine who may be responsible.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Boating Accidents?
Boating accidents can happen quickly, particularly when an operator is distracted, unfamiliar with the waterway, or unwilling to slow down when conditions call for caution. Some of the most common causes include:
- Speeding
- Operator inattention
- Alcohol or drug use
- Inexperienced operation
- Reckless maneuvers
- Failure to watch the weather
- Overloading the vessel
- Mechanical failures
- Lack of safety equipment
What Compensation May Be Available After a Boating Injury?
A successful boating accident claim may allow an injured person to recover compensation for both economic and personal losses. The available damages will depend on the seriousness of the injury and how the accident has affected your life. Some of the forms of compensation that you may receive in a successful claim are as follows:
- Medical bills and future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and medication expenses
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disability
- Property damage, when applicable
After an accident, it is wise to get medical care promptly, preserve photographs and other evidence, obtain witness information, and avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before reaching out to an attorney. Here at The Mark Law Firm, our dedicated legal team can review your case, identify the liable parties, and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation so we can discuss the circumstances of your case and begin fighting for the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.
